It looks as if Neymar is forcing a move away from PSG. He failed to turn up for the first day of training ahead of the new season. The club said that appropriate action would be taken and just a day later the club’s sporting director has said that the Brazilian can leave for the right price.
Neymar Club After Summer Transfer Window Odds*
Barcelona evens
Real Madrid 4/1
Manchester United 50/1
Man City 66/1
* (betting odds taken from betfair on July 9th, 2019 at 5:04 pm)
PSG dream turns sour
Back in 2017 Neymar had a pretty acrimonious move from Barcelona to PSG for a world record 222m euros (£200m). He went there with the ambitions of the star of the show and to help the Parisian club earn European glory in the UEFA Champions League. If anything, they have started to slip back a bit and the marriage between player and club has turned a little sour.
Not only has he played just the 37 league games for the club in the two seasons, but there have also been off-field indiscretions. Neymar picked up a three-match UEFA ban for complaining about a referee after PSG were knocked out of last season’s competition by a dodgy penalty awarded to Manchester United against them. He also got into a little dust-up with a fan after PSG has suffered a French Cup final defeat against Remmes. He was also stripped of the Brazilian captaincy this year.
Where would Neymar move too?
There is obviously a lot of money involved when it comes to the superstar. PSG are going to want to recover as much as they can in cutting their losses. The big link has been with Neymar taking a move back to the Nou Camp with former club Barcelona. Barcelona themselves have really not suggested that is even an option for them at this point.
Barca have already spent big on getting Frenkie de Jong and will likely have Antoine Greizmann in their ranks next season as well. Still Barcelona remain the even money favourites to be his club at the start of next season* (betting odds taken from betfair on July 9th, 2019 at 5:04 pm).
The only other realistic option would be Real Madrid, which actually looks more of a viable option. The club are in rebuild mode after such a disappointing campaign last season and Neymar would renew optimism in the club. That would of course also rile up Barcelona probably. Real Madrid could even use Gareth Bale as a bargaining chip to send the other way along with a cash sum.
No offers
PSG said on Tuesday that no offers had arrived for Neymar. It’s not only down to one of the major clubs in the game who actually have the spending power to get him, it’s who would want him? He is a very divisive character, brilliant with the ball, but he seems to be injury-prone and with a heavy reputation for diving and play-acting.
He could be a commercial investment for someone. The bookmakers recognise the fact that realistically it is only going to be Barca or Real Madrid that he goes to. The likes of Manchester and Manchester City are just unrealistic options because of finances. But there is another option. Neymar has three years left on his PSG contract. But for 7/5 odds there is an option of Not to sign or agree a contract with any other club* (betting odds taken from betfair on July 9th, 2019 at 5:04 pm).
